Authors: Jennifer Ryan
That made Dane smile. She might actually be keeping count. “What number do I have to get to before you say yes?”
“I’m your doctor. You’re my patient.”
“Here I thought we were friends. I’ll call you later tonight. Bell Brittany.”
“Please don’t call me that.”
The sad look in her eyes made him agree. “Okay, Bell. Thanks for checking on my leg and ribs.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll see you in a week.”
“If not before,” he said, touching his hand to Ella’s back to get her moving out the door so he could grab his crutches. “I like your office. It’s you.”
“How do you mean?” Bell scanned the space, a slight frown on her pretty face.
“Neat. Orderly. Elegant with a touch of country. The outdoors inside with all the plants.” Pots in varying sizes filled up the room with their glossy green foliage. “Filled with books.” The built-in bookshelves were stacked with all kinds of books. Medical, nonfiction biographies and how-to’s, along with fiction. She liked mysteries and thrillers. With her sharp mind, she probably enjoyed the intricate and twisting plots.
“I like books.”
“If only I could get you to like me that much.”
Ella stood, waiting down the hall for him; he hesitated, then went with his gut. “I like you that much, Bell.”
He turned to go, but Bell grabbed his forearm. He glanced down at her fingers wrapped around him. One finger traced the tattoo on his arm. He felt the sudden spark, then the heat rush through his veins. She snatched her hand back, her eyes wide with recognition that she’d felt it, too. She folded her arms around her middle. He wanted to feel her skin pressed to his again.
“I, uh, will see you next week.” Her gaze fell to the floor.
“You said that already.”
Her head snapped up and her eyes locked with his. She hesitated, but took a deep breath and said, “I do like you.”
He smiled, because his chest felt so full of happiness that it rose up and filled his face. “Was that so hard to admit?”
“Kinda.”
“I’ll call you later. Have a good lunch. Don’t work too hard, Doc.”
“Dane?”
“Yeah?”
“You have a nice smile.” Her arms tightened around her waist. Admitting that to him wasn’t easy for her.
“I like yours, too, but I think you’ve got the prettiest eyes I’ve ever seen. I like it when you look at me and see me.”
He hobbled down the hall to Ella on his crutches. He wanted to look back and see if Bell watched him, but he didn’t dare. They’d shared something for a moment. He’d take that small victory and quit while he was ahead.
“She likes you,” Ella said when they got into the elevator.
“I’m working on it.”
“She’s not what I expected for you.”
“I think I said something similar to Gabe about you.”
Ella chuckled. “So you did.”
“She’s been in the back of my mind for years. I thought about her all the time. Probably why I dated women the exact opposite of her. No one who looked like her ever measured up. Now I can’t stop thinking about her.”
“I’m happy for you, Dane.”
“But?”
“I wonder if you’ve got the stamina to see this through. She’s not like the other women you know. She’s not going to jump into your bed, or easily leave once you’re over it.”
“What if I told you I’d think less of her for jumping into my bed, despite the fact that’s exactly where I want her?”
“You like her because she’s not like the others.”
“I’m trying something new. Getting to know her on a deeper level.”
“You’ve got no choice. If you want her in your bed, that’s the only way you’re going to get her there.”
“No, that’s the only way I’m going to get her to want to stay there.” The elevator doors opened, but Ella didn’t step out. She stared up at him. He gave her the honest truth. A truth he’d finally realized over the last six days he’d spent talking and getting to know Bell.
“She’s not a woman you ever get over.”
R
owdy would never get over Brandy. He loved her. Why couldn’t she see that? He’d proven it to her time and time again, and still she kept him at arm’s length. Always on the outside, hiding things from him, never telling him anything about Kaley. His fucking daughter. Not Dane’s.
He took another swig from the fifth of whiskey, recapped it, and stuffed it under the truck seat where he always kept it. He watched. He waited. She should have come out of the hotel ten minutes ago. Done with her cleaning up after other people, making beds they’d spent the night fucking in, sponging down bathrooms where they’d left their towels on the floor for his woman to pick up. He hated that she worked this shit job. She should be home, taking care of his kid.
The glass door swung open. She stepped out and raised her face to the sun. Her golden hair glowed. She looked damn good in her tight jeans and white T-shirt. He rubbed his hand over his aching cock and shifted his balls. Damn, but he wanted to fuck her from behind, her hair fisted in his hand, her head pulled back, her tits shaking as he pounded his dick into her.
He got out of the truck, swiping the back of his hand across his lips. “Brandy,” he called, stopping her in her tracks as she headed for her car.
Her eyes went wide and her lips pressed into a tight line.
Why wasn’t she ever happy to see him?
“I don’t have time to talk to you right now. I’m running late.”
Dismissed again, his anger boiled in his gut. He closed the distance between them, even though he had to take a few extra-long strides to catch her as she backed up. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close, letting her body rub against his hard cock.
“Come on, baby. Let’s go someplace and talk. I miss you.” He leaned in to kiss her neck, but missed when she kinked her neck to keep him away. “Don’t be like that. Give me some sugar, baby.”
“No. Let me go, Rowdy. I don’t have time for your shit right now. I need to stop off at the pharmacy and get my dad’s medication.”
“I’m just asking for a few minutes of your time,” he pleaded.
“For what? A quick fuck so you can scratch an itch. I’m not your girl. I’m not your baby. We’re done.”
“We’ll never be done. You and me, we love each other.”
“I don’t love you anymore, Rowdy. You need to move on.”
Stunned she’d say such a thing, he let loose his hold, and she bolted for her car and jumped inside.
Furious she kept taking off on him, he ran for his truck, climbed in, and followed her. He caught her at the light and yelled out his open window, “Pull over, Brandy, we need to talk.”
“Leave me alone.”
He blew through the stop light right behind her. She sped up. So did he. He honked at her to get her to pull over. She didn’t, and his anger flashed. He pulled into the clear oncoming lane and honked again, steering closer to her to get her to stop at the curb. She turned to miss him, but sped up and got ahead of him again. He hit the gas, pissed off and feeling surly, and slammed his front end into hers. She swerved, nearly lost control, and slammed on the brakes, her right front tire practically up on the curb. He hit the brakes and came to a stop, his truck blocking her in. Now he had her. She couldn’t get away.
He got out. She sat in the front seat, her phone in her shaking hands. He rushed her and pulled the door open. She screamed, “No, Rowdy, please, leave me alone.”
He grabbed her arm, took the phone, and pulled her out of the car.
“Stop this. Please,” she pleaded.
He pushed her up against the side of the car, pressing her into it with his body to keep her from running away. She struggled, pushing against his chest with her hands. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” he snarled.
“Me?” Her voice rose. “You ran
me
off the road. You hit
my
car. You’re drunk. Again.” She squirmed to get free, but he gripped her arm hard to make her stop. She yelped, then stopped and settled down.
“I had a couple of drinks.” He shrugged like it was nothing. Because it wasn’t anything. He could hold his liquor.
“A couple too many.”
“Why the hell are you always nagging me about that? I know my limits.”
“You’re drunk and driving. You could have killed me.” She smacked him on the shoulder with a flat hand.
He pressed his hands to the hood of the car on each side of her shoulders, letting the weight of his body hold hers. He caught sight of the photo of Kaley on her phone screen. He must have hit something to make it come on. He stared at the photo for a moment and thought of everything he wanted and everything they’d lost these last months.
“How did it all fall apart?” he asked, genuinely perplexed that she didn’t want to be with him, when he tried so hard to do right by her. It all went to shit sometimes because she pushed. She flirted with other guys. She never did what he wanted or said.
“Rowdy, you know why I don’t want to be with you.”
He swiped his thumb over the phone screen to see more pictures of his little girl. Instead, he read the text messages that came before and after the photo she sent to Dane.
He’s why she couldn’t be with him. Some friend Dane turned out to be, stealing his girl.
“You’re still fucking that asshole.”
Brandy planted both hands on his chest and shoved him back. He lost his balance, his head spun, and he stumbled. She ran for it down the street.
He didn’t think, just went after her, grabbed her arm, spun her around, and swung. The blood spurted from her mouth when his fist smashed into her beautiful face. She fell to the ground, her head thumping against the asphalt, her cheek scraped and bleeding from sliding on the pavement. Limp. Lying in a heap. Knocked out cold.
Like a bucket of ice water dumped over his head, he realized with stunned disbelief what he’d done. He kneeled beside her and patted her face. “Brandy. Wake up. Wake up!”
She didn’t move. Fear stole his breath. He checked up and down the street. No one in sight. He couldn’t leave her lying in the road. She’d come to, call the cops, and he’d end up in jail. Again. Not fucking going to happen. He’d take her to his place. They’d talk. She’d see reason. She’d forgive him again. She always did, because she knew he didn’t really mean it. Sometimes he lost his temper. If she’d cooperate, damnit, this wouldn’t happen.
He pulled her up and over his shoulder, then rushed her to his truck just as another car turned the corner. Keeping his back to it so they didn’t see his face, he got Brandy inside before the vehicle drove by. He ran around to the driver’s side, gunned the engine, and tore out of there, his tires squealing. He checked the rearview mirror, hoping no one else saw them leave. He’d forgotten to close her car door.
“Fuck!” He slammed the heel of his hand on the steering wheel. The sting went up his arm. He looked down beside him and smacked Brandy in the head. Her head rolled, but she didn’t wake up. “You fucking bitch. You ruin everything.”
He pulled the bottle of whiskey from under the seat and took a long pull, letting the liquid burn its way down his throat to his gut. He shut off everything inside of him and drove, no real plan in mind. He thought about what he’d say to the bitch sleeping beside him. She was either going to come around to his way of thinking, or this was the last fucking time he tried to get her to see how much he loved her.
He pulled into the driveway at his place on the outskirts of town. He needed to feed the horses and do some chores, all the things he’d neglected following Brandy around, trying to get her to see reason.
She moaned and rolled her head sideways, pressing her hand to her swollen face. Startled, she sat up and turned to face him. She glanced around. “How did we get here?”
“You passed out.”
She moved her jaw side to side and pressed her hand to her cheek. “You knocked me out.” Her voice trembled. Tears filled her eyes, then spilled over.
“You won’t listen.”
She grabbed her phone off the dashboard, where he must have tossed it when he’d gotten in, grabbed the door handle, and tried to get out. He grabbed her by the hair and pulled her back. She screamed, reached back to his hand to get free, and pinched the skin at his wrist, twisting painfully, making him let go. She turned and slapped him across the face. The sting surprised him and sent a tidal wave of rage rushing through his veins.
What happened next didn’t register past the red haze in his mind until he looked down and found his hands wrapped around her throat, her eyes wide and lifeless. His fingers ached from squeezing so hard.
Her limp hands lay over his. He wished she’d stop biting her nails. He liked a woman who had pretty hands. Brandy didn’t.
He let loose her throat, ignoring the angry red marks on her neck, and traced his finger over her brow, pulling a lock of golden hair away from her face. He sank back into the driver’s seat and stared out the window at his overflowing mailbox hung next to his front door.
So many things he needed to do that he’d put off far too long. Only one thing left to do now. Make that cocksucker pay for stealing his woman. He’d let that asshole get away with showing him up far too long. Dane always got what he wanted. Not this time. Rowdy would take everything from him. Then he’d come back here, get Kaley, and they’d live a good life together. He’d take care of his little girl. No fucking way that dickhead took her, too.
Some methodical part of his mind took over. He drove out of his driveway with a sense of purpose. He’d take his time. Find the one thing Dane cared about and couldn’t live without. Then Rowdy would take it away and let Dane feel the depth of loss Rowdy felt now. Right before he killed the bastard.
B
ell walked out of the locker room at the hospital, teetering on her new high heels. She loved the black beaded straps that crisscrossed her feet and went around her ankle. Not her usual style, but she wanted to look nice next to Ella, who had style and poise. She always seemed so put together and chic. The best Bell came up with was a deep amethyst dress with a tight bodice, square neckline, and cap sleeves. The skirt dropped from just under her breasts down to her knees and swished when she walked. She should have gotten more sensible shoes. Her feet would ache by the end of the night.
“Dr. Bell, do you have a minute?”
“I’m sorry, Tim, but I’m on my way out.” Dr. Hamberg worked in the ER. She’d covered for him last week when he’d needed a night off to take his wife out for their anniversary.
He swept his gaze from her hair to her feet. His eyes snapped back to her hair. She’d taken a bit more time, curling the top and slicking back the sides. She loved the edgy look. She’d seen a model with something similar in one of the dozen magazines she’d scoured, looking for a stylish dress, shoes, and hairstyle she could match in real life.
“Uh, you look really great.”
“Thank you. If you’ll excuse me.”
“I guess you can’t cover for me tonight.”
“No, I’m sorry, I’ve got plans.”
“You never go out. Ever. What’s the special occasion?”
“A fund-raiser for the Crystal Creek Clinic.”
“Right, you work there on your days off.”
She never had days off. Maybe she should take some. Go shopping for more stylish clothes. See a movie. She hadn’t been in months. Find a new restaurant. Try her hand at dating. She’d been on a few dates in medical school, but never more than two with the same person. Too focused on her studies, feeling like an outcast when the other students were older than her, she’d given up on her personal life. Stick with what you knew and were good at.
“Well, have a good time.”
“Thank you. I hope you find someone to take your shift.”
“Probably better if I stay here—my wife is home with the flu.”
“You’d probably be okay if you got your flu shot.”
“Oh, I got it, but that’s not going to help me survive my cranky wife.” He smiled and walked away down the hall.
“Bring her home some soup from Martin’s Café. She’ll appreciate it.”
Tim turned and nodded his head. “Score some points for all the long hours I work.”
“Make her feel better and get a smile.”
“I love it when she smiles.”
Bell walked out the hospital side door to her Jeep in the doctor’s parking lot. Tonight, she didn’t exactly look the part of a woman who drove a Jeep. She smiled, liking this new facet of herself.
She drove through downtown to the hotel where the event was being held. She didn’t know what to expect when she got there, but it certainly wasn’t all the banners advertising the occasion.
She drove to the hotel entrance and sprung for valet parking. Easier than having to find a parking spot amidst all these other guests. This way, she didn’t have to walk so far in her heels.
She entered the lobby with several couples. The ladies looked lovely in their cocktail dresses, the men in their dark suits. Apparently, she’d missed the memo about wearing one of those little black dresses. She drew stares from the men and women. Self-conscious, she smoothed her hand down the skirt, hoping she hadn’t missed the part that everyone was to wear black.
She followed the noise and the other people to the huge ballroom. At two hundred dollars a plate, she hadn’t expected this many people to attend. The place was packed. Alone, she smiled as she passed people, hoping to spot someone she knew—namely, one of the Bowden family. Preferably not Dane. The man didn’t know when to quit. She wasn’t his type. They had little in common.
Liar.
They actually had found a lot they had in common on their long phone calls.
Which you take every night because you like talking to him.
Food seemed to be the one thing they always found common ground on. Dane had traveled across several states and had discovered many good restaurants, not always on the beaten path. She liked to find those small restaurant gems, too. She loved hearing him talk about his horses like they were his children. Each of them had their own personality. She hated to admit how much she’d like to go to his place and see them up close. She’d love to learn to ride. Too bad she had no intention of giving in to that desire with Dane. Or any other desire. No way.
She wasn’t going to end up like her mother—a man’s cast-off one-night stand.
Ella and Gillian spotted her from across the room. They looked lovely in their dresses, their hair done in pretty styles. Gillian glowed in a gorgeous turquoise-and-cream dress that hugged her curves and made her hair color shift from blonde to red. Ella wore a midnight blue gown that sparkled with a silver sheen. She’d pulled her light brown hair up into a simple bun with spiral tendrils framing her pretty face. Bell was grateful she wasn’t the only one who’d chosen to wear a color. The three of them stood out amongst most of the guests. Several other ladies dared to wear red, pink, and golden-hued dresses, but they were definitely the minority.
“Bell, you look beautiful. Where did you find that dress?” Ella asked.
“A boutique I pass on my way to my favorite restaurant for lunch. The designer opened it about six months ago. I’ve always wanted to go in and buy, but mostly I window-shop. The window displays are amazing. Kind of trendy chic with a touch of elegance.”
“You’ve got to take me. I love the simplicity of your dress. It has just enough flair in the details in the sleeves and neckline. It’s stunning. Of course, on you anything would look great.” Ella’s compliment went right to Bell’s heart.
She’d never had a girlfriend, but every time she was with Ella and Gillian, they seemed so laid back and easy to get along with. They never looked or spoke to her like she was different.
“You did something different with your hair. I love that style,” Gillian said. “I wish I had the guts to chop my hair short.”
“Don’t you dare.” Blake stepped up to his wife and handed her a drink. “I love your hair long. Bell, you look fantastic. Dane’s eyes are going to pop out of his head when he sees you.”
“Where is bachelor number one?” Ella asked.
Blake used his beer glass to point out Dane, standing amidst a horde of blondes with legs that went on for miles, all dressed in short black dresses.
“He’s like one of those bug zapper lights. He attracts every blonde in a hundred-yard radius,” Bell commented.
Everyone cracked up. She hadn’t meant to say that thought out loud. Dane heard the ruckus and fixed his penetrating gaze on her. She felt the stare heat her skin as he scanned her from head to foot. A smile spread across his face and lit his eyes. She couldn’t help smiling back, because when he looked at her that way, damn if she didn’t feel beautiful.
“Told you,” Blake said. “Three, two, one. Here he comes.”
Sure enough, Dane broke free of the crowd of ladies around him without so much as an “excuse me.” The women stared at his back, disgruntled frowns and glares on their overly made-up faces. Bell had gone for subtle makeup, letting the dress color enhance her blue eyes, along with a soft lavender shadow and black liner and mascara. She’d painted her lips a shade darker than her natural color.
She stood out, but for all the right reasons tonight. She pulled off the look and felt her confidence grow with each step Dane took in her direction, his eyes locked on her.
“That is a man on a mission,” Ella said.
“Look out, Bell, here he comes,” Gillian added.
“There’s no getting away,” Blake said. “He will hunt you down.”
Her stomach knotted with anticipation. She’d never had a man look at her the way Dane did. Yes, she believed he wanted her. For what and how long, she didn’t know.
Unable to take her eyes off Dane, she tried to decide what she liked best about his new look. His tailored suit fit his wide shoulders and lean waist to perfection. Not even his uneven gait and crutches took away from his determined stride. He’d shaved the usual scruff from his square jaw and combed his dark hair back into a sophisticated style. The man looked like a magazine cover model. He’d sell a million copies with all that arrogant male magnetism. She wasn’t immune to his good looks or his charm, but she tried to be for her own sanity. Giving in to him would only end in disaster. For her. He’d move on with any one of the blonde Bettys snarling behind him.
Dane’s heart stopped cold when he saw her standing there, looking so damn beautiful, then his whole body went hot with the wave of lust that shot through him. Every time he’d seen her in the past, she’d been in either casual clothes, work attire, or, during their last appointment, scrubs. Nothing prepared him to see her in that dark purple dress, her hair done up in a funky style that contrasted her sweet personality and hinted at a wilder side he wanted to get to know better. The woman constantly surprised him. He liked that about her.
“Hey, gorgeous. Purple is definitely my new favorite color. You take my breath away.”
“I bet you say that to all the girls,” she shot back.
“Only to the ones who deserve it. So far, that’s only you.”
The skeptical look in her eyes frustrated him. Nothing he ever said to her went down smooth. She always winced, like it left a sour taste in her mouth. He’d have to try harder to get her attention and make her believe him.
Well, he had her attention. The heat in her eyes nearly scorched him when she stared at him hobbling across the room. He wanted to be off these damn crutches. Hard to pull off strong and confident with a busted leg. He’d stick with arrogant, but it only put her off. She’d call him on being cocky. So he was left with trying to be himself and hoping that was enough.
“You look so different tonight.” She studied him like some unknown infectious disease under a microscope.
“I ruined a perfectly good pair of pants looking this good.” He glanced down at the cut-off pant leg he’d tucked into the top of his black brace.
“Totally worth it,” Ella said, smiling at him.
He hoped Bell thought so, too. He wanted to kiss her, hold her hand, and pull her close to his side so every man in the room knew the gorgeous woman belonged to him. She’d probably jab him in the gut if he tried. Not that he could pull it off smoothly with the crutches tucked under his arms, holding him up. The last thing he wanted was for her to knock him on his ass.
Not that she really would, but still, he didn’t want to give her a reason to push him away.
Gabe joined the group, holding two whiskeys on the rocks, with a glass of wine for Ella clasped tightly between his fingers. Gabe handed Dane one of the whiskeys.
Bell glared, her pretty mouth dipping into a disapproving frown.
“What?” he asked.
“Nothing.”
“I haven’t had any pain meds in three days. My ribs are good. My leg is better. We covered this the other day at your office.”
“Did I say anything?”
“Yes. With just one look.”
That made her smile.
“Bell, your sister just arrived.” Ella pointed across the room to Katherine and Tony standing just inside the entrance.
“Excuse me. I’ll go say hello.”
“I’d hoped you’d make the rounds with me and speak to potential investors about the clinic,” Ella said.
“Of course. Just give me a few minutes.”
Dane shoved his drink into Gabe’s chest, giving him no choice but to take it back. He grabbed the crutches’ handles and went after Bell.
“Go get her,” Blake said behind him.
Damn right.
He caught up to her a few seconds after she reached her sister.
“Katherine, you look lovely,” Bell said, leaning in to give her sister a friendly hug.
“Bell, you look amazing. That dress is fantastic on you.”
“She’s the most beautiful woman in the room, but you’re a close second.” Dane complimented Katherine, who smiled even as her sister glared up at him.
“Why aren’t you with your family?” Bell asked him.
“I want to be with you.”
Tony coughed to cover a laugh. “Dane, man, good to see you up and around. How’s the leg?”
“Getting better every day, thanks to the doc.”
“So, you two are seeing each other?” Katherine asked.
“No,” Bell said. “Yes,” he said.
Bell glared at him.
“What? I saw you the other day, last week, tonight.”
“We are not dating.”
“Only because you refuse all my invitations to go out together. I’m left with making appointments with you at your office and calling you every night. Apparently in your book, that’s dating.”
“You talk every night?” Katherine asked, a soft smile on her face when she glanced at Bell. “That’s wonderful. I’m so glad you’ve put yourself out there.”
“We’re not seeing each other.”
“I’m seeing you. I’m just waiting for you to catch up.”
Or give in.
“So, Bell, are you really going to give up your practice and work full-time at the clinic?”
“I’m not giving up my practice, I’ll just be moving it to Crystal Creek. I’d still have admitting privileges at the hospital.”
“You decided, then? You’re going to take the job?” Dane hoped so. Maybe then she’d have time to go on a proper date with him.
The surprise in Bell’s eyes told him even she hadn’t meant to say it quite that way. Maybe deep inside she’d decided, but she just hadn’t made the conscious decision to put her words into actions.
“I, ah, have been thinking about it. I like that I won’t have to commute to work so far, and I can practice medicine on a wider scale. Hip and knee replacements get tedious after a while.”
“Not enough busted-up cowboys coming into your office?” Tony asked.
“Some, but I’d like the challenge of working on a variety of cases.”
“With your smarts, you’d be great at it.”
Katherine’s compliment took Bell off guard. Her eyes went wide, and she opened her mouth to say something but closed it again.
Dane studied the two sisters. Even up close, he couldn’t find any resemblance between them.